In the past I derived a sense of purpose from both religion and work. Work was more practical - people depended on me, required my presence. In that way the 'sense' of purpose was similar to people depending on you for a ride or babysitting. Nothing to do with one's long-term legacy, just a 'sense.'
Religion was more esoterical. My purpose was to follow the rules and conform to whatever the latest concept of a 'righteous' person was, usually involving roles at church and as a husband and father.
When I left religion behind I definitely noticed this absence of a sense of purpose. Not right away, but within a year or two. Since I was raised in a fundamentalist home and generally followed that mentality for four decades, this was a big deal!
When I left work I felt the loss of that secondary sense of purpose, but it was offset by not having to deal with stupid people all day. LOL I never felt that my role at work was special or meaningful in the big picture.
So yeah, after having spent three decades or so spending most of my waking hours doing jobs for the end result of just having money to pay the bills, I definitely would prefer not to get to the end of my life and look back and see that I spent my retirement years just existing, doing nothing of any importance. Sure, that beats having to be at work every day, but I feel a sense of needing to do something more. I'm not looking for sainthood, just a fleeting sense of significance.
I follow Wes Moss and have read his book. Below is a brief article on what I've mentioned to friends. There is also a related youtube video here (skip 1st minute):
Title: Why It’s Critical To Find Your Core Pursuits Before Retirement
https://www.wesmoss.com/news/why-its-critical-to-find-your-core-pursuits-before-retirement/
I like the concept of 'core pursuits' - it is probably what most people mean when they refer to the bigger philosophical concept of 'purpose.'
Yes. You are correct.
I think that a retirement is to retire from pursuing any serious purpose.
If you equate purpose with work, then yes.
right?
this whole idea of "what's your purpose" is a bit much I might add. All these articles and books on "what are your goals in life". That's like corporate America narrative BS in my view. I'm done with that part of my life! Enough already lol.
I like to do things via volunteer work that help animals and people and I'm immensely grateful to be in this position. That's enough for me. I don't want or need to have some grand plan to "change the world" or have to put undue pressure on myself to "do something". And yes, nothing beats the option to sleep late, especially on a Monday morning!
I might agree to the extent that I definitely avoid getting caught in the 'productivity' hamster wheel. But I do want to *progress* - to grow and change, not become stagnant. But you *do* seem to have found a 'sense' of purpose in your volunteer work. I'm pretty sure that is *exactly* what the OP was talking about. Having a sense of purpose has nothing to do with changing the world, at least not the entire world.
Once when I was in a meeting like that this down to earth guy from the South got tired of people arguing over whether the mission statement should be "completely customize principle-centered vortals" or "principle focused vortals synergized by operational excellence" (or something like that). He just spoke up and said "It don't matter. Neither one means a dam* thing."
Yes, you are right. I, too, do have a purpose now. It is to never have to waste a minute of my life sitting through meetings like that again.
This is a most worthy purpose! LOL
I have no purpose other than to try and stay healthy, entertain my mind a bit each day, be a good person and have fun. Right now, work is in the way of all that. When it is not, I don't intend to have much greater purpose and I feel that is OK.
Too much emphasis on thinking about meaning and purpose I always come up empty and people just disappoint. Most of us are here, then we are not, and the world goes on. For me acceptance of that was the most liberating thing ever.
Interestingly, my acceptance of the finite nature of life had the opposite effect! Most of us think in chunks of five years or less in the future, usually planning no more than a week or two out. But when I contemplate our brief existence, I desire to be remembered by more than a few family members. I desire to leave some trace that I was here. I think of so many people, some very famous, some not-so-famous, who we still speak of, centuries or even millennia after they are gone. This mostly involves the written word, either their words or others writing about them. Thus my interest in writing, and genealogy.
This may come across as grandiosity, or an inflated sense of self, but it is my response to this fleeting life. I desire to be remembered.
After reading the rest of this thread, maybe we all need to take our purpose in life a little less seriously and stop seeking to optimize every waking moment.
I'm with Gumby: "Not all those who wander are lost."
And from the submarine force I learned the motto "Boring is good."
I don't think any person in this thread talked of optimization of every minute. That's completely different from having a sense of purpose.